Nick Kyrgios’ reputation for controversy continued in Indian Wells, as he suffered a straight sets defeat 7-6, 7-5 to Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the second round of Indian Wells.
Kyrgios had engaged in an argument with Bernard Tomic over Davis Cup in the build-up to Indian Wells, and the controversy continued in his match in California.
Kyrgios looked the stronger player in the first set, earning six break points compared to Ramos-Vinolas’ three. Neither man was able to convert though, and in the end the first set was decided effectively by Kyrgios’ poor first serve percentage.
The second set saw the Australian continue to struggle, yet it was at his most encouraging point of the set that it all began to unravel. He earned break points at in game five, but as he stood waiting to return serve, the lines-judge stood behind him went up to converse with the umpire, who then docked Kyrgios a point for an audible obscenity. Kyrgios failed to break, and the change of ends argued over the call with the umpire, protesting his innocence to no avail.
Kyrgios was still struggling, as his normally rampant serve was not earning as many points as he has become accustomed to, Ramos-Vinolas working his way into a number of Krygios service points. Kyrgios still seemed annoyed by the earlier call and he lost his way in the final game. Serving to stay in the match in game twelve, Ramos-Vinolas earned a match point, and then passed Kyrgios with a shot that flicked the tape for the win.
Ramos-Vinolas will now meet Gael Monfils, who survived a second set blip to eventually defeat Pablo Carreno-Busta in straight sets 7-6, 7-5. Monfils won the first set tiebreak before establishing a double break lead early in the second. he was pegged back, but broke and held again in the final two games to reach the third round.
